A Gathering of Strangers 2021

A Gathering of Strangers first saw light in 2010 when it was released by a pan-EU collective headed by dubtronic pioneers Transglobal Underground, under the moniker Urban Native Integrated Traditions of Europe (a Top of the World in the July 2010 issue, #69). Now it's been remastered, remixed and rereleased as part of TGU's ambitious one-album-a-month challenge for 2021.

The project features guests from Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Ireland and the UK, with stars of folk, hip-hop and electronica all getting involved. This united European front, together with a theme of longing that threads through the whole album, makes this a compelling collection of protest anthems from the resistance, created while Brexit was still the dream of a fringe lunacy. The strange thing is that a side-by-side comparison with the original isn't particularly kind on the 2021 edition, soundwise. The 2010 release just feels meatier, its basses more full and its tops more resonant. Add in that the new version has five fewer tracks, it all makes for a rather odd remaster. Like its source material this is still a very good album and a great listen on its own… but it might be best to track down a copy of the original before settling for this update.